Perseus Mining Releases Land for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining
Perseus Mining (Ghana) Limited has taken a bold step to support Ghana’s new Small-Scale Cooperative Mining Scheme by giving back 70 hectares of its Ayanfuri Mining Lease in the Central Region.
The land will now be made available to local cooperatives made up of community members, chiefs, and youth to carry out legal and sustainable small-scale mining.
For many families who depend on artisanal mining to survive, access to legally allocated land has been a long-standing challenge. The new scheme aims to bring small-scale mining into the formal sector, creating jobs, improving safety, and reducing the damage caused by unregulated “galamsey” activities that pollute rivers and destroy farmlands.
Local miners say they are optimistic that the land release will give them a lifeline. Many see it as a turning point in moving away from dangerous illegal mining to safer, regulated operations that can provide steady income, access to finance, and the pride of building a legitimate livelihood. For the youth in Ayanfuri and surrounding communities, the land represents hope for economic independence and a more secure future.
Perseus CEO Jeff Quartermaine said the company remains committed to working with the government to ensure mining benefits communities. As part of the handover, Perseus has also contributed US$1.428 million for future rehabilitation of the land, reinforcing its pledge to environmental stewardship.
The company’s Edikan Gold Mine, operating since 2011, has supported nearby communities with education, infrastructure, and employment through the Edikan Trust Fund, which in 2024 alone invested US$500,000 in community projects. Perseus’s broader contributions to Ghana’s economy, including taxes, royalties, and local spending, exceeded US$286 million in 2024.
Industry experts say formalising small-scale mining through initiatives like this can transform livelihoods, providing miners with stability, safer working conditions, and access to markets, while reducing the environmental toll of illegal mining. For many in Ayanfuri, this new chapter in small-scale mining could mark the beginning of a more sustainable and prosperous era.
